AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > August > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech AD Radakovich anxious for opener
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
This was the first day on Dan Radakovich’s new job, which began a little over five months ago, when it really begins to count. Football was cranking up. The players were reporting to the Georgia Tech campus. News ferrets were infiltrating the premises. You could feel the electricity in the air. No one was feeling it more than Dan Radakovich himself.
“I wish September the second was tomorrow,” he said, in a voice drenched with enthusiasm.
While Chan Gailey wouldn’t share that ebullience, Sept. 2 will be the most monumental date in his checkered life of college coaching. Notre Dame comes to town. Georgia Tech-Notre Dame will be the main course on the nation’s evening menu, kickoff at 8 o’clock — Notre Dame, projected to be No. l in the nation by a lot of soothsayers. Brady Quinn vs. Reggie Ball. Offhand, it may read like a mismatch, but Reggie looks at it as the launching of his campaign to let America realize who he is.
But, this is Dan Radakovich’s story, and he feels the itch to get on with it. What a break-in day for a fellow on his first job as a Division I-A athletics director. (He’s not allowed to escape it. Each day he enters his office, there’s a reminder on his secretary’s desk: “Teresa Irish.” It is true, that is her name.)
Radakovich (you say it “Rad-uh-KO-vich”) arrived at Georgia Tech in late February, somewhat of a surprise to old-line alumni who greeted the announcement with a clenched-fist mindset. Radakovich never flinched, though he did make his appearance on crutches, result of a recent surgery. He didn’t come without credentials. He has served in college athletics from coast to coast, from Miami to Long Beach, with stops at South Carolina and LSU en route, and along the way been the custodian of staggering budgets.
It was his chance to have his own department, but there was more. “It’s because of where it is, Atlanta, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the glorious history of Georgia Tech,” he said. “This is an oasis. The old is held in high respect, but the institute is on the cutting edge.
“You need to understand you don’t change things in the blink of an eye. Deliberate is the key word. Be cautious. Don’t rush. That’s the reason I’m so looking forward to breaking in with such a big game. I want to see how this works. You don’t have to create passion. The passion is already here. That’s part of what college athletics is, the passion to educate and entertain.”
Radakovich grew up in western Pennsylvania, spawning ground for many a great athlete, quarterback heaven for college recruiters. When he made his choice he never left the territory, it was Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 90 miles from his Aliquippa home. Indiana, Pa., is known mainly as the hometown of the actor James Stewart, “And, the Christmas tree capital of the world,” Radakovich said, and he chuckled.
At Georgia Tech, Radakovich follows in a short line of historic athletics directors, beginning with John Heisman, immortalized by the trophy bearing his name. Next came Bill Alexander, then Bobby Dodd, and in time, Homer Rice. Radakovich follows the embattled Dave Braine, forced out by illness, among other factors.
The new man presents an impressive figure, tall, trim, handsome, amiable, having established all those qualities and residency in the area of east Cobb. He has spent time doing the meeting circuit, “About 50 of them, I’d guess,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of people, and there’s more to do. It takes time, and as I said, I’m a deliberate person. I enjoy getting up every morning and going to work.”
Chan Gailey is accustomed to tough openers, Auburn twice and Brigham Young another year. “It’s nothing new to him,” said the boss.
But this is Notre Dame, 33rd time these two have played, first since ‘99, and the eyes of America will be on Bobby Dodd Stadium. But consider this: wherever Radakovich has gone, prosperity ha s followed, or continued. “You’ll never find a man better prepared to become an athtletics director.”
Mike McGee, who employed him at South Carolina, said it.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher, Tech / ACC
Comments
By Surfrider
August 4, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this
The New AD seems to be doing a fine job. Reggie on the other hand may want to know plenty know of him and have seen him on TV. Talk will not win games. What will win games is an intense focus on the objective of each play. If Tech can get it’s pass completion ratio up to 60% then plenty of accolades should come Reggie’s. It has to be done on the field not in the media.
By Surfrider
August 4, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this
The New AD seems to be doing a fine job. Reggie on the other hand may want to know plenty know of him and have seen him on TV. Talk will not win games. What will win games is an intense focus on the objective of each play. If Tech can get it’s pass completion ratio up to 60% then plenty of accolades should come Reggie’s. It has to be done on the field not in the media.
By Santa
August 5, 2006 08:00 AM | Link to this
If, “If and Buts” were candy and nuts, it would be Christmas all year around.
Accolades for Reggie - after he turned up on a UGA CB before running out of bounds and then cries when the Dawgs make sure he DOES go out of bound for the rest of the game… Then he turns around to make sure an official is not watching and he filps over UGAs water table … then he pushes over an “older” UGA assistant down on the side line that just happens to be standing where he was “run” out of bounds .. what kind of accolades do you think Reggie deserves? He is a punk.
He will never live that day down.
By rocket city jacket
August 5, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
The new AD answers e-mail and communicates with alumni unlike the previous AD who was afraid to publish his e-mail address much less communicate with alumni. This could be Reggie’s year. Duc* Notre Fame! GO JACKETS!
By George P.
August 5, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
I keep hearing all of the talk that Tech does not have a chance against ND….but let me rmind the ND fans, that your last Football National Title was in 1988 and ours was 1990, and last time we got together with anything of importance we whipped your rear! Rudy was and always will be off sides! Get ready boys and girls, MR. Johnson starts his Heisman march Sept. 2!
By Senior Citizen
August 5, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this
“Santa” needs to peddle his garbage elsewhere.
We saw GT tie a “number 1 ranked ND” with a lineman (end) at the QB slot,so it doesn’t take a superstar at that position for them to be successful.